A typing clerk, also known as a clerk typist, typist or general office clerk, performs typing and word processing work along with other office or clerical duties as assigned. Typing clerks work in a variety of office environments including government, educational and health care settings. Because typing clerk jobs can lead to other types of office positions including administrative jobs, reviewing the basics about this job can help you determine if it’s a good fit to your career goals.

Education

Typing clerks usually have a high school diploma or GED equivalent with typing and computer experience. Some employers require typing clerks to have postsecondary education in business or office practices, data entry and word processing through a vocational school, college or other educational institution. Typing clerks often receive on-the-job training for about a month or longer. Some employers only hire applicants who have prior work experience in a similar office setting or industry.

Duties

A typing clerk’s primary duty is to produce or edit various documents, such as reports, correspondence and presentations. He receives or gathers data to create documents from scratch or from existing materials. For example, he might retype handwritten documents, rewrite drafts or transcribe voice recordings. A typing clerk might print, copy and prep his work for physical handout or faxing, or send his work to others in an electronic format. Additional clerical duties might include data and filing system management and reception work, such as answering phones and greeting visitors.

Skills and Abilities

A typing clerk must be able to type quickly and accurately using various data processing tools, such as computer word processing, writing and spreadsheet applications. When processing and handling documents, she must approach her work in an organized and detail-oriented fashion to prevent missed deadlines and spelling, grammar, punctuation, content and document formatting errors. A typing clerk must also have the ability to work well with others and communicate clearly, as she often must clarify information with co-workers and people outside the office.

Salary

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, word processors and typists surveyed in 2011 made a median $34,260 per year or $16.47 per hour with the top 10 percent earning $48,180 per year or $23.16 per hour. General clerical workers surveyed in 2011 earned a median salary of $27,190 per year or $13.07 per hour. The top 10 percent earned approximately $43,390 per year or $20.86 per hour. These numbers do not include self-employed workers.